March 4, 2012. BOONE — Appalachian State University football officially finalized the hiring of Chris Foster as an assistant coach last week. Foster will coach running backs for the Mountaineers, which begins spring practice on Monday, March 5.

Foster comes to Appalachian from Gardner-Webb, where he served as the Bulldogs’ running backs coach the past eight seasons. He coached an all-Big South performer in four of those seasons at Gardner-Webb, including each of the last three campaigns. Most recently, GWU’s Kenny Little became the Bulldogs’ first 1,000-yard rusher in 11 years while earning all-conference recognition under Foster’s tutelage in 2011.

During his tenure at GWU, Foster also served as the staff’s primary academic advisor and a top recruiter. Additionally, he oversaw the program’s strength and conditioning activities on an interim basis in 2006.

Foster began his coaching career immediately upon his graduation from Gardner-Webb, where he was one of the program’s all-time best rushers from 2000-03. A two-time all-Big South running back, Foster ranked sixth in GWU history at the time of his graduation (and seventh currently) with 1,883 career rushing yards. He was also a two-time first-team academic all-district honoree, making him one of only two student-athletes in Gardner-Webb football history to earn the prestigious recognition multiple times.

A Chesnee, SC native, Foster was a South Carolina Mr. Football award finalist and the Appalachian 2A Conference Player of the Year at Chesnee High in 2000. He graduated from GWU in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He and his wife, Tiffany, have a daughter, Journei.

With the hiring of Foster as ASU’s running backs coach, Justin Stepp, who was hired to coach the Mountaineers’ running backs in January, will move to wide receivers coach. The wide receivers coach position became available with the resignation of Alvis Whitted, who accepted the same position at Colorado State.

Foster and the rest of Appalachian’s revamped coaching staff get their first opportunity on the field with the Mountaineers on Monday when ASU opens its annual spring practice season. Appalachian will hold four of the 15 NCAA-allowed spring practices this week before giving the squad a week off for spring break. The Apps return to the practice field on March 19 and are scheduled to conclude spring drills the first week of April.

At this time, all of the Mountaineers spring practices will be closed to the general public. The possibility exists, however, that the public may be invited to view a scrimmage late in the practice season. Regular practice reports and any available updates on a public scrimmage will be available throughout the spring season at GoASU.com.